Thursday, July 19, 2007
(Audio Replays of the meeting are available upon request)
A regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission was held on Thursday, July 19, 2007, 7 p.m., in the Wake County EMS Training Facility, Carya Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Ray Echevarria called the meeting to order.
The following members were present: Ms. Ann Suggs, Mr. Billy Myrick, Mr. Wayne Sherrod, Chief Tom Vaughan, Chief Mark Haraway, Mr. Michael Fletcher, Mr. Lucius Jones, Chief Chris Wilson, Senator Vernon Malone, Commissioner Paul Coble and Chief Tony Mauldin.
Members absent were: Chief Cecil Parker, Chief Mike Cooper, Mr. Bill Gatewood, Chief Rodney Privette and Chief Scott McCollum.
Chief Vaughan gave an invocation.
Ray introduced Demetric Potts, the new Public Safety Manager, working in the Public Safety Department.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Coble made a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Mr. Jones. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Jones made a motion to approve the minutes of May 10, 2007, which was seconded by Mr. Myrick. The motion passed unanimously.
REGULAR agenda
APPARATUS COMMITTEE
Chief Frank Woods presented the apparatus committee report. Bids have been awarded for the pumper/tankers and the service trucks, as each were received within the budgeted amount. The brush truck specifications will be altered and rebid, as compliant bids received were over the budgeted amount.
Chief Ed Brinson made a presentation regarding the committee’s recommendation regarding Wake Forest Fire Department’s 3,000-gallon pumper/tanker request. The committee recommends that, 1) the existing pumper/tanker specification be maintained, 2) adding a 3,000-gallon tank as an option to the current specification is not feasible, and 3) the fire tax support 100% of replacement of pumper/tanker with a County-specification tanker. The recommendations apply only to the use of fire tax funding and do not preclude the use of other funding.
Ray Echevarria informed the Fire Commission that Chief Swift requested that any action be postponed due to his being unable to attend the meeting.
After the presentation and discussion, Mr. Fletcher made a motion to accept the committee’s recommendation, removing the funding of a 2,000-gallon tanker, and to request that this item not be brought back to the Fire Commission for future consideration for a period of at least one year. Mr. Coble seconded the motion. A clarification was made that this motion does not affect Wake Forest’s upcoming pumper/tanker replacement and that fire tax funds not be used toward the purchase of a 3,000-gallon tanker. The motion passed unanimously.
Senator Malone requested that this decision be communicated to Wake Forest via letter.
Ray turned the chair of the meeting over to Ms. Suggs.
WESTERN WAKE FIRE STATION #2 AD HOC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Chief Sidney Perry presented a report on the Western Wake Ad Hoc committee. The committee recommends that the Fire Commission, 1) discontinue funding for Western Wake Fire Station #2 effective July 1, 2008; 2) create a Cary Suburban Fire Insurance District; 3) contract with Cary Fire Department to serve the Cary Suburban Fire Insurance District; and 4) contract with Cary Fire Department to provide a supplemental response to Western Wake in those areas currently in Station 2’s area that will not be part of the Cary Suburban Fire Insurance District.
Committee recommendations regarding apparatus and personnel were discussed.
Chief Bona addressed questions and explained issues that Western Wake has with the closure of the fire station, including the impact on insurance grading, personnel and apparatus concerns.
Ray Echevarria explained that if, at some future time, information becomes available different than expected (i.e., insurance grading outcomes or a change by the Town of Cary), that information will be brought back to the Fire Commission for evaluation.
Chief Haraway made a motion to accept the committee recommendation as stated. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
FACILITY COMMITTEE
Chief Brinson presented the facility committee report. The report included a breakdown of current Heery projects. Also, the committee has been evaluating coverage of unincorporated areas not in a rated fire insurance district in Eastern Wake County. The committee recommends proceeding with construction of a fire station, operated by the Garner Fire Department in the US 70/Raynor Road area to serve this unrated area. The committee further recommends the Fire Commission adopt a resolution supporting the fire station in the area, including exploring options to cost-share this project with the Town of Garner.
Discussion followed regarding the timing of the fire station in Raynor Road area and the reconstruction of Bay Leaf fire station #1 as currently contained in the fire tax district capital improvement plan.
Commissioner Coble made a motion to support the facility committee recommendation regarding the fire station in the Raynor Road/US 70 area. Chief Vaughan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Discussion continued on the reconstruction of Bay Leaf fire station #1, the need to balance staffing needs with other capital projects and the need to coordinate the operating budget with the capital budget. After discussion on the Bay Leaf Station #1 reconstruction, Chief Brinson informed the Fire Commission that he and Chief Roof recommend moving forward with the special use permit consideration at the Board of Adjustment meeting in August, and after that meeting, the Facility Committee will review the reconstruction project to see if any cost savings can be realized.
FIRE TAX CIP REEXAMINATION
Ray explained that this item had been covered during discussion of the Facility Committee recommendations in the previous agenda item.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING PROCEDURES
Chief A.C. Rich discussed the issue of disseminating information discussed at subcommittee meetings, since all fire departments cannot be present at all meetings. Chief Rich requested that agendas and minutes for each subcommittee meeting be distributed.
Ms. Suggs informed the Fire Commission that she will ask Ray Echevarria to distribute meeting notices and minutes of committee meetings.
INFORMATION AGENDA
chair report
Chief Ed Brinson has been appointed to the Facility Committee and, with the resignation of Mr. Myrick from the committee, has been elected as committee chairman by the committee.
fire/rescue services director REPORT
No report.
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chief Rich explained that the Stony Hill Fire Station construction project was 100% managed by Wake County staff. Chief Rich inquired whether any cost savings could be realized in the Bay Leaf project if that same project management took place. The Stony Hill fire station is owned by and construction was managed by Wake County.
Chief Rich also discussed staffing and the impact of hiring full vs. part-time personnel.
The question arose regarding the ownership of the Bay Leaf Fire Station, once remodeled. The ownership of the Bay Leaf station has not been determined.
Mr. Myrick publicly thanked Western Wake for all they have done and service to the County.
Adjournment
The next regular meeting of the Wake County Fire Commission is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2007.